Saturday, September 5, 2015

Israel's Mission

Israel's Mission

Ray Vander Laan

DVD Series
Focus on the Family

Litfuse and Focus on the Family bring you Volume 13, Israel's Mission: Becoming a Kingdom of Priests in a Prodigal World, the latest release in Ray Vander Laan's popular That the World May Know® video series. That the World May Know features Vander Laan's unique method of Bible teaching and takes viewers on location to give context to the original writings.

Vander Laan has always believed that to more greatly understand and appreciate the Bible, one had to have a sense of the land and the culture from which it sprang. Biblical analogies and examples, while meaningful and helpful even to this day, were first meant to convey God's truth to particular people in a particular time and place. So the more fully we can appreciate those times and places, the more fully we can respond to the power of the Word.

I received Volume 13, Israel's Mission along with an accompanying study guide that can be used individually or in a small group setting.My thoughts: I greatly enjoyed this DVD series.It does seem a little drawn out (long) for today's hurry-up mentality. However, his scholarship is outstanding. The theology is right on target. But most people probably won't take the time that this study will require. There is a study guide, lesson one is over 58 pages, with the amount of time required for each portion of the study. It would be well worth it if they did. This is kind of a travelogue and sermon, with very illuminating illustrations. One could learn a lot from the messages taught. He's certainly passionate about the subject, and engaging. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Filmed on location at these biblically significant sites in Israel and Jordan:

—Back to the Father’s House – Negev Desert—Show Them the Way – Timnah—Prodigal Sons and Daughters – Qatzrin—Return from the Far Off Country – Jerash—Welcome Home – Qatzrin

WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?

God gave the assignment to His people thousands of years ago: to bring "lost sheep" back into the love and safety of His kingdom. He said to become a "Kingdom of Priests," and put God on display to show the world what He is like. It's still our task today. In this thirteenth volume of the That the World May Know ®film series, you'll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Discover the mission that can give your life --- and the lives of those around you --- greater meaning than you ever imagined.

Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the lands of the Bible. In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know® film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Since receiving his Master's of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1976,Ray Vander Laan has been actively involved in studying and teaching Jewish culture using the methods of Jewish education. He has continued graduate studies in Jewish Studies in the United States, Israel, Turkey and Egypt. He has been a teacher for 35 years and is an ordained minister with the Christian Reformed Church. He has also authored a book entitled Echoes of His Presence, published by Focus on the Family. Vander Laan founded That the World May Know Ministries in 1998. Ray has taken over 10,000 people with him on his study tours of Israel, Turkey and Egypt.

Ray's preaching and teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible in light of the historical and cultural context in which God placed it. This perspective on the Bible highlights God's call for His people to be a transforming influence on their culture. He uses research of the top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and Biblical study as tools to explore the Biblical text ever more deeply. His gifts, expertise, and calling are to link that cultural information and the Bible so that its message applies to our lives today in very practical ways.

Our task as Christians is to bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. How are you doing at welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace? Learn how to work on your task with Ray Vander Laan's Israel's Mission, volume thirteen in the That the World May Know® DVD series. Discover the mission that can give your life—and the lives of those around you—greater meaning than you ever imagined. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Celebrate the release of Israel's Mission by entering to win the entire That the World May Know® series—perfect for working through with your family, Bible study, or Sunday school class!

One grand prize winner will receive:

All 13 DVDs in the That the World May Know® series

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced September 21st on the Litfuse blog.